I attended the Living History show in Kalamazoo Michigan Saturday, I saw a rather pleasing architecture Soddy Daisy mountain rifle there. The odd thing (to me) was the butt plate, side plate and trigger guard where cast in a very red color Copper. I stopped to inquire, and the builder was at the opposite end of the table and very busy, but the other man at the table told me the Copper was Historically Correct.....I can not say Copper Castings "never" happened on SMR's but I am wondering out loud if such a thing Really IS considered historically correct?
I do love the color of Copper and if it had a nice patina I think it would have looked pretty Nifty!
I believe the builder wanted the Copper to really pop so he had abraided the castings with some rather coarse sandpaper and about 1/3 of the castings showed rather coarse scratches of "new metal"... all that very rose Copper new metal gave a look that was....somewhat shocking (for me) to look at. If only the sharp corners and high spots had been worn thin simulating wear against clothing and regular use, I think I might have liked it more.
I am now kicking myself for not taking photos of the rifle as the patina could be adjusted to my taste.
Does anyone have photos of a Copper mounted SMR, or thoughts about historical correctness?
The castings did not look anything like Bronze, and was more "red" than a 1 cent coin, I have heard people refure to this metal as "Rose" Copper, but am not well versed in all types of Copper alloy.